Democracy cannot exist without the right to free speech.
Free speech should be robustly defended as a fundamental freedom.
The National Secular Society has defended free speech from religious threats since our founding. We played an instrumental role in abolishing "blasphemy" laws in Britain, but serious concerns remain. Blasphemy laws still exist in Northern Ireland. And throughout the UK, religious fundamentalists seek to impose their blasphemy taboos on others through violence and intimidation.
There are also increasing attempts to categorise offending religious sensibilities as 'hate speech', making criticism, mockery or perceived 'insult' of religion a criminal act akin to racial hatred or inciting violence – in other words, a 'blasphemy law by the back door'.
Without free speech no search for truth is possible; without free speech no discovery of truth is useful; without free speech progress is checked… Better a thousand fold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech.
We are further concerned by a developing 'culture of offence' in which any speech or action deemed likely to offend religious sensibilities is considered taboo. Enforced by a toxic mix of terrorism and religious deference, this is chilling free speech through self-censorship.
We also campaign against blasphemy laws around the world, where they continue to be used to target religious and political minorities. These are sometimes described by UK politicians as 'misuse' of blasphemy laws, but we contend there are never any legitimate uses for blasphemy laws.
Being offended from time to time is the price we all pay for living in a free society. Rather than trying to silence those we disagree with, we believe the answer to speech we don't like is more speech – better speech.
We therefore campaign to protect and preserve freedom of expression, including offensive, critical and shocking speech.
What you can do
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Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
2. Join us
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Government online harm plans could curb free expression, NSS warns
Posted: Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:36
The National Secular Society has warned that government plans to require social media companies to censor "hateful" and "offensive" content could act as "a de facto blasphemy law".
In its response to the government's white paper on online harms, the NSS said efforts to confront and challenge hateful speech and behaviour "must not undermine" free speech on religion.
The white paper outlines plans to create a regulator with the power to fine online platforms and block websites. The regulator will be required to create guidance for social media companies, outlining what constitutes "hateful content" online.
The guidance would include content which is "not necessarily illegal", content which may "directly or indirectly cause harm to other users" and some "offensive material" in that definition.
The NSS said censoring content that could be considered offensive would "severely restrict freedom of expression, including the freedom to criticise or satirise religion".
The society added that the question of offence was "an entirely subjective matter".
The NSS also noted that a requirement on companies to "demonstrate 'continuous improvement'" in "tackling hateful material" could encourage them to be more censorious.
The NSS also challenged a claim in the white paper that "offending online is just as serious as that occurring offline". The NSS said this line lowered the threshold for hate crimes, because people's ability to commit such crimes is much more limited online than offline.
The society raised the example of a man who was recently arrested on suspicion of hate crime after publishing a video on Facebook of himself mocking Islamic prayer in a hospital prayer room.
The NSS noted that threats of death and violence were made towards the man and were reported to the police, but no action appeared to have been taken against the perpetrators to date.
The NSS also criticised the government's definition of hate crime which is contained within the white paper. The definition says hate crimes "include crimes demonstrating hostility on the grounds of an individual's actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity".
The NSS said this definition was too broad, meaning any incident "in which an individual demonstrates hostility toward another individual" based on the listed characteristics could be treated as a hate crime.
The society said strong critics of religion or Christians who preach that gay people will go to Hell were examples of those who risk being charged with hate crimes.
NSS spokesperson Megan Manson said the white paper had "given too much ground to those who attempt to shut down legitimate expression, including on religion".
"The government should treat the fundamental right to free expression as a positive value in its attempts to promote social cohesion. Instead it has proposed cracking down on what people can say on social media, based largely on vague and broad definitions of what constitutes 'hateful' material. In the process it risks significantly undermining free expression for all and stirring social resentment.
"Ministers must not treat the civil liberties of British citizens as an afterthought in their efforts to tackle online harms."
Meanwhile newspaper industry representatives have warned that the government's plans could "chill, censor and sanction" news publishers.
Asda sacks man for sharing comic sketch mocking religion
Posted: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 10:45
The supermarket chain Asda has sacked a man for sharing a sketch of the comedian Billy Connolly mocking religions including Christianity and Islam on social media.
Brian Leach was dismissed after a colleague complained that the sketch, in which Connolly said "religion is over" and called suicide bombers "wankers", was anti-Islamic.
The National Secular Society is in touch with Mr Leach, who is currently appealing against his dismissal internally, to explore whether legal options may be available to him.
Leach was dismissed without notice from his job as a checkout assistant at Asda's Dewsbury store in West Yorkshire last Wednesday, on the grounds of gross misconduct.
He had removed the post and apologised to his colleagues before he was sacked.
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said Asda's decision to dismiss Leach "appears to be exceptionally harsh".
"Sharing a sketch which mocks religious ideas and suicide bombers on social media should not be grounds for dismissal. Brian Leach has good reason to feel aggrieved and many other British citizens have good reason to feel concern about what this could mean for their own freedom of expression.
"Any actions employers take to protect their reputations must be proportionate. We are therefore keen to explore what options may be open to Mr Leach to redress this situation.
"Regardless of what happens next, this episode should make us sit up and take notice of the power we give to religious offence-takers, particularly in the social media age."
The NSS has challenged blasphemy laws and codes since its inception in 1866 and played a leading role in the abolition of the blasphemy law in England and Wales in 2008.
In an interview with local paper The Examiner Leach said: "I'm really upset and I would love to know what Billy Connolly would think about what has happened to me."
An Asda spokesman told The Examiner: "We would never comment on individual circumstances.
"However we do not tolerate any form of discrimination from colleagues or customers and take such behaviour extremely seriously."
Image: via Flickr, © grassrootsgroundswell [CC BY 2.0]
